Ingersoll Rand employees clean the Uttarahalli Lake in partnership with United Way, Bangalore



Ingersoll Rand employees clean the Uttarahalli Lake in partnership with United Way, Bangalore



‘Ingersoll Rand employees clean the Uttarahalli Lake in partnership with United Way, Bangalore

‘Ingersoll Rand employees clean the Uttarahalli Lake in partnership with United Way, Bangalore

Worldwide Semiconductor Revenue Grew 1 Percent to Reach $302 Billion in 2011

Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew 0.9 percent from 2010, reaching $302 billion in 2011, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. After a strong start to the year, worries about the strength of the macro economy slowed equipment and semiconductor orders in 2011.


"The industry did well in the early part of the year, in many cases entering the year with backlog from an exuberant 2010," said Stephan Ohr, semiconductor research director at Gartner. "But uncertainty about the state of the macro economy set in at the midpoint of the year. Consumers held off purchases, and infrastructure expansion plans languished as governments resisted assuming more debt. Equipment inventories began to build as the year progressed, with resulting ripples throughout the semiconductor industry."


Intel held the No. 1 position for the 20th consecutive year, and 2011 marks Intel's highest-ever market share at 16.9 percent. Its previous high was in 1998 when it commanded 16.3 percent of the market. Intel saw strong growth in the first half of the year as the PC market stocked up inventory in anticipation of a strong second half of the year. Intel had a strong year for its server products Westmere and Nahelem. Intel's revenue for 2011 includes the wireless business unit (BU) purchased from Infineon in the first quarter of the year, a transaction worth about $1.4 billion to Intel's revenue in 2011.

At No. 2, Samsung Electronics saw its revenue grow slightly above the industry average despite its exposure to the declining DRAM market. Samsung's NAND business saw healthy revenue growth, but this was broadly in line with the overall NAND market growth. Samsung's non-memory business was by far the strongest growth area for the company, with application-specific devices, particularly wireless applications processors. The strongest growth came from Samsung's relationship with Apple, where it is supplying the A5 processor used in the iPhone 4s and iPad2 media tablet.








Texas Instruments, in the No. 3 position, has arguably the strongest manufacturing capability in the analog semiconductor industry — a consequence of acquisitions made in 2010. However, uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment affected revenue for all analog suppliers as orders slowed in the third quarter of 2011 and again in the fourth. The slowdown for power management devices — important in the construction of new data centers, and in the deployment of personal computers — was not as severe as the slowdown in amplifiers and data converters.







As a group, the processor makers — Intel, Qualcomm, Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia — outperformed the rest of the industry. Intel's server business grew despite slowdowns in PC production. Qualcomm was carried by ongoing shifts to 4G and LTE mobile services. Nvidia's Tegra platform supported tablet makers hoping to capture some of the enthusiasm associated with tablet PCs.







Memory makers among the top 25 semiconductor suppliers — Hynix, Micron and Elpida — showed revenue declines as a consequence of DRAM price declines and loss of market share in the DRAM space. Samsung's growth of 3.7 percent growth was carried as much by mobile phone application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) as by memory. SanDisk grew 33.5 percent on demand for flash memory.







Additional information is provided in the Gartner report "Market Share Analysis: Preliminary Total Semiconductor Revenue, Worldwide, 2011." The report provides the worldwide market share rankings for the top 25 vendors in 2011. The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1871819.







About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner to 60,000 clients in 11,500 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and has 4,500 associates, including 1,250 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit http://www.gartner.com/.

HSCI launches the stunning New Honda City with Advanced Features and Premium Styling

Honda Siel Cars India, leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today launched the new Honda City with striking new looks and value added features.


The New Honda City juxtaposes Honda’s superior design and enhanced premium styling. On the exterior, the new chrome front grille, restyled front and rear bumper and all new taillights accentuate the looks of the car. The newly designed and attractive 10 spoke Alloy Wheels (in select grades) add to its sporty look.

The interiors of the New City incorporate an elegant and attractive design. The plush Beige interiors with high quality seat fabric and improved modern Centre Control Panel with stylish Chrome fittings gives the car an upmarket feel. The New City sports a soft lit Blue Meter Graphic which lends even more premiumness to the car.

The New Honda City now comes with enhanced ground clearance of 165 mm, 5mm more than its predecessor giving it an extra bit of comfort on bumpy roads. The length of the new City is 4440 mm (20 mm longer than its predecessor).


The complete range of the City has been expanded to give more options to the customers and will now be available in 5 variants – Corporate, E, S, V MT/AT and V (Sunroof) MT/AT. The newly introduced V(Sunroof) grade of the New City now comes with a sunroof which has been introduced in this segment for the first time and adds to the premiumness of the car even more. The introduction of new features like Cruise Control System and Turn indicators on ORVM in New City 1.5V and V(Sunroof) complement the look of the car and make it plush with a luxurious feel.


The City 1.5E will now be offered with Beige interiors and addition of Integrated Advanced Audio System while City 1.5S will have added value in form of Alloy Wheels. The Corporate grade of the City comes with all new Black interiors and will appeal to customers who are looking for affordability in a premium sedan.

The company has also added new colors in the line-up of the new City apart from existing offering. It will now be offered in Carnelian Red Pearl and Sparkling Brown Metallic which have been first time introduced in the Honda line-up. The existing colour range includes - Taffeta White, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Bold Beige Metallic and Urban Titanium Metallic.


Speaking on the occasion Mr. Seki Inaba, Director Marketing, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. said, “Honda City is one of the most successful car brands in the country and certainly the most desirable sedan in its category. Honda City has 11th time achieved No.1 Rank in JD Power Initial Quality Survey in the mid size segment which is a record in itself. It is our constant endeavor to study customers' emerging demand and introduce features that enhances the overall ownership experience. I am confident that the new range will appeal to our customers even more and will be the most admired offering in its category.”


The Honda City comes equipped with a 1.5L, 4 cylinder new generation i-VTEC engine that delivers a good balance of 118PS power along with excellent fuel economy of 16.8 km/l (Test results as per Rule 115 of CMVR). In line with the Honda’s policy of reducing impact on the environment the engine is E10 compliant and has Euro IV emission levels.



The Safety of passengers and pedestrians is a first priority for Honda. Honda City is fully loaded with various active and passive safety features as standard including ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with Brake Assist (BA), Dual SRS airbags, pre-tensioner seat belts and G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) body with a high integrity survival zone. The front body structure of the Honda City ensures advanced pedestrian safety features.





The 3rd Generation Honda City has been the winner of numerous Auto Awards including the most prestigious ‘Indian Car of the Year 2009’ (ICOTY) Award. Its instant success is testified by the fact that it has sold nearly 1.36 lakh units since its launch in September 2008 and cumulatively 3.76 lakhs units since its first launch in India in 1998.





Bookings for the New City will start immediately at all Honda dealers nationwide however deliveries will begin from January 2012.



The price of the new City range (ex-showroom Delhi) is:





Corporate MT – Rs. 699000



E MT – Rs. 770000



S MT – Rs. 820000



V MT – Rs. 870000



V AT – Rs. 942000



V (Sunroof) MT – Rs.950500



V (Sunroof) AT – Rs.1022000





About Honda Siel Cars India Ltd



Honda Siel Cars India Ltd., (HSCI) leading manufacturer of passenger cars in India was established in December 1995 as a joint venture between Honda Motor Co. Ltd (Japan) and Siel Limited with a commitment to provide Honda’s latest passenger car models and technologies, to the Indian customers.





HSCI’s first state-of-the-art manufacturing unit was set up at Greater Noida, U.P in 1997 with an investment of Rs. 450 crore. The total investment made by the company in India till date is Rs. 1620 crores. At present, the company has a capacity of manufacturing 100,000 cars.





HSCI’s second manufacturing facility is in Tapukara, Rajasthan. The first phase of this facility was inaugurated in September 2008 and is spread over 600 acres. It has fully operational state of the art, press shop and power train to make body panels and engine components for Brio, Jazz and City. Plant has been awarded with "National Energy Conservation Award" for their efforts in energy conservation in automobile manufacturing sector for the year 2010.





The company’s product range includes Honda Brio, Honda Jazz, Honda City, Honda Civic and Honda Accord which are produced at the Greater Noida facility with an indigenization level of 80%, 77%, 76%, 74% and 28% respectively. The CR-V is imported from Japan as Completely Built Units.





Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from its established qualities of durability, reliability and fuel-efficiency.





The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country. The network includes 135 facilities in 83 cities. HSCI dealerships are based on the “3S Facility” (Sales, Service, Spares) format, offering complete range of services to its customers.



The company operates under the stringent standards of ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environment management.

Celebrate the joy of gifting with a Zippo Windproof Lighter

With the festive season beckoning and days of fun-filled celebrations, just around the corner, now is the perfect time to consider loved ones by giving them a gift for a lifetime – an iconic Zippo windproof lighter. . With new hopes and renewed resolutions, the pulse and preparation for New Year celebrations have already begun and Zippo will be on hand to help you celebrate in style!




The Bling Emblem Zippo Windproof Lighter is an ideal souvenir for this special season. Designed with polished chrome and embedded with Swarovski crystals, this lighter will complement a luxurious personality. It is exceedingly enchanting and a much prized possession for one and all.





Party hard, let your hair down, have a blast and hold your Zippo lighter high for the countdown on New Years Eve!



To see the plethora of trendy designs and stockist information, please visit the website at www.zippoindia.com.





Model No:





20904The lighter is backed by Zippo's lifetime guarantee, complete with the original Zippo packaging and is priced at INR 4,000/-.





About Zippo



Zippo was founded in 1932 in Bradford, PA. The Zippo windproof lighter has become an international icon of American ingenuity and tradition and is a treasured collectible throughout the world. The Zippo windproof pocket lighter, in addition to the traditional chrome finish, features millions of designs depicting hobbies, activities, logos, and lifestyle interests. Over 450 million Zippo lighters have been manufactured in Bradford since 1932 and all are backed by Zippo’s unparalleled lifetime guarantee



For more information about Zippo please visit http://www.zippoindia.com/.

The Serai Chikmagalur joins Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Small Luxury Hotels of the World is now offering discerning travellers more choice in South West India with the addition of The Serai-Chikmagalur to its portfolio (www.slh.com/seraichikmagalur). Located in the heart of ‘coffee country’ in Karnataka which produces over half of the coffee grown in India, The Serai-Chikmagalur combines classic and contemporary design and beautiful natural scenery. Indigenous materials from the plantation such as Chapdi, the local stone, and natural rosewood are incorporated into the stylish design.




Coffee addicts can enjoy a guided plantation tour on the local estate to get a new perspective on their favourite caffeine boost - Arabica, Robusta and many spices grow in abundance in this part of the region. Guests can see first-hand how oranges, pepper, cardamom and vanilla are grown within the coffee plantation to balance and support the ecosystem.



For those who prefer a bird’s eye view, guests can take a heli tour to see the lush rolling hills, fertile plantations, estates and coffee works whilst learning about the history and culture of the land. Coffee fans can even luxuriate in their favourite brew at the Oma Spa where it is one of the key ingredients in their signature treatments, including scrubs and massages. Coffee is said to have numerous anti-ageing and protective properties and is a natural anti-oxidant.

For those looking for adventure and culture, there are many experiences available in the local area including trekking, a visit to the Chennakeshava temple in Belur and the Shiva temple of Hoysaleshwara in Halebidu, both renowned for their intricate carvings, and Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola - the largest monolithic statue in the world.



Reflecting Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s responsible tourism initiative, Caring Luxury, the Serai-Chikmagalur is committed to preserving its local environment and to supporting the community. Local residents are trained and employed at the resort and they support disadvantaged communities through a fair trade scheme. Recycled wood from the plantation was used extensively in the construction of the resort, including the furniture and interiors. Water from the resort is filtered and recycled to be used for irrigation in the local area and rain water harvesting systems are in place.

Guests booking through Small Luxury Hotels of the World can enjoy a special mid-week package including a guided plantation walk, indoor and outdoor games, all meals, welcome drink, fruit basket, cookies and complimentary mini bar on day of arrival. Rates start from INR27,188 for a minimum two nights’ stay. Valid until 31 March 2012.

Gartner Says CIOs Must Assess the Impacts of the Euro Crisis on Their Enterprises Now

With extreme uncertainty plaguing all enterprises operating in the eurozone, CIOs must act immediately to protect their enterprises, according to Gartner, Inc. CIOs need to safeguard their enterprises from the risks of government/bank default, euro break-up, counterparty bankruptcy and employee/customer distress.



"Uniquely positioned within their enterprises, CIOs are at the fulcrum of business and technology, and they are the only executives with sufficient visibility and potential capability to address the challenges posed by today's eurozone crisis," said David Furlonger, vice president and Gartner Fellow. "Business leaders are crying out for CIOs to demonstrate more effectively the capability of IT and, specifically, to add value to the business. Therefore, this crisis also presents CIOs with an opportunity to make substantial and bold steps to meet CEO demands, and demonstrate the importance and true value of IT."


"Unlike recent economic difficulties, today's crisis has the potential to totally undermine the eurozone, the whole EU and beyond," said Andrea Di Maio, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "Spurred on by the pervasiveness of the Internet, the crisis negatively affects every enterprise or individual doing business in or with the region. The CIO's top responsibility is to guarantee business continuity."


Gartner analysts said there are four broad challenges that the euro crisis raises, and they examined how the CIO is best positioned to provide enterprise leadership on addressing those challenges. These challenges include:



Challenge 1: Market Volatility



Most enterprises and their IT departments are burdened with significant numbers of bureaucratic processes and latent decision-making mechanisms. Today's market conditions require business and government executives to radically restructure their business practices.







"Market conditions require CIOs to help develop a working environment that promotes speed, agility and adaptability — without sacrificing accountability," Mr. Di Maio said. "Change management capabilities will be critical. The foundation to achieve effective change management will demand information, analytics, HR flexibility and a more decentralized command-and-control management structure."







Challenge 2: Capital Costs



The costs of and access to capital across Europe will likely continue to worsen until there is a significant redress in structural imbalances between countries and organizations. Unwillingness or inability to write off debt and restructure public- and private-sector balance sheets is a substantial barrier to market efficiency. Lines of credit will likely become uncertain or removed, forcing corporations to reduce inventory.







"In this situation, CIOs will face zero-growth budgeting at best, and substantial reductions in both the investment capital and the operational budget made available to run the business at worst," Mr. Furlonger said. "If a market meltdown occurs, then critical resources and supplies may be at risk. CIOs and other executives must develop contingency plans to ensure multiple backups."







Challenge 3: Human Capital Management



Millions of people are out of work in Europe. Formal government austerity packages and informal corporate restrictions on salaries, benefits and working conditions, combined with high costs of living, are stressing workforces. This situation is compounded by retirement funding shortfalls, extensions in the working age and loss of benefits.







"CIOs and business executives face significant HR issues in terms of rewarding and motivating staff, securing funds to hire appropriate new talent, and dealing with the personnel hardships of individuals entering the work environment, which impair productivity," Mr. Di Maio said. "They must also plan for retention issues of foreign workers moving to better opportunities or the removal of non-EU work permits and visas in response to political backlash from rapidly rising unemployment, resulting in a 'brain drain'."







Challenge 4: Risk Management



The capital markets (and many corporations) believe that the risk of government and counterparty default is substantial. Receivables management is being stressed, and the likelihood of internal and external fraud rises. From an IT standpoint, operational risk is heightened via issues such as changes in contractual obligations and business continuity. Added to this is the continued increase in regulatory compliance initiatives across industries, which exacerbate the pressure on audit and risk management assessments and workflows.







"Prior to the crisis, enterprises were already challenged to identify enterprisewide risks in a holistic fashion to link those risks to the performance of the business and to manage risk in a time-effective manner," Mr. Furlonger said. "Now, the CIO — and corporate treasurer, head trader, CFO and others — need to ask questions such as, 'Can existing risk models accommodate alternatives to the lack of historical data (in many cases, as much as three years of back data is required) necessary for regression testing/yield curve analysis of hedges, and for stressing asset and liability portfolios in the event of a redenomination in all or part of their asset and liability portfolio?"







More information is available in the Gartner report, "CIOs Should Address the Impacts of the Euro Crisis on Their Enterprises Now." The report is on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1867317.







Mr. Furlonger and Mr. Di Maio will provide additional analysis during the complimentary Gartner webinar, "Euro Crisis: Plan Now to Minimize Impact on IT and Business," on January 19, 2012, at 9 a.m. EST and noon EST. To register for this free webinar, please visit http://my.gartner.com/webinardetail/resId=1870520.


About Gartner



Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner to 60,000 clients in 11,500 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and has 4,500 associates, including 1,250 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com

HID Global Showcases Its Secure Identity Object Technology for Embedding Identities into Mobile Devices at IFSEC India 2011

HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, is continuing its drive to deliver innovative products and solutions from the 8th to the 10th of December at IFSEC India 2011. The company will showcase its new readers and credentials as part of HID’s next-generation iCLASS SIO-Enabled™ (SE) access control platform that is based on the company’s new, portable identity model for advanced security, increased mobility and enhanced performance. The new, portable identity model revolutionizes the implementation of high security readers and credentials while enabling the use of digital credentials on mobile devices.



HID Global will also showcase a variety of solutions for physical access, logical access and secure issuance at hall 18, booth #A160 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Key demonstrations at IFSEC India 2011 include:



· The Next Generation of Access Control: iCLASS® SE platform is designed to raise the bar for card-to-reader security, while enabling the use of multiple form factors (smartphones, microprocessor-based cards, contactless smart cards and other devices), and delivering superior performance, enhanced usability and increased environmental sustainability.



· Printing and Encoding Solutions: including HID’s FARGO® high definition (HDP) and direct-to-card printer/encoders. The printers produce reliable, professional quality, personalized color ID cards and security encoding all in one pass. Asure ID® 7 photo card software with enhanced user experience and added functionality designed to extend ease of use, convenience and productivity.


· Logical Access Solutions: HID Global’s logical access solutions are designed to deliver convenience for the user, simplicity for the IT manager and a higher level of logical access security for the organization. The single credential can be used as a photo ID badge, as a “key” that opens doors and as a second authentication factor for logging into the IT infrastructure. It allows organizations to leverage existing physical access cards to deploy an additional layer of security using smart card technology.



· Migration Solutions: The latest migration readers enable organizations to bridge the gap between legacy solutions and secure 13.56 MHz MIFARE™, DESFire® EV1 and iCLASS® contactless technologies and deploy multiple applications on single credential.



· Networked Access Solutions: HID Global's networked access solutions, including EDGE® and VertX® networked access controllers. Designed to meet the demands of open architecture, IP-centric environments, the controllers can be configured for a variety of access control applications.



During the seminar sessions of IFSEC 2011, HID Global will present “"Next Generation of Access Control Platform - Embedding Identities on NFC-enabled Smartphones"


* Ranjit Nambiar, director of sales, South Asia with HID Global, will illustrate the company’s latest Secure Identity Object technology for embedding identities into mobile devices on Saturday, December 11, 2011 from 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. at hall 18, Pragati Maidan. A university pilot that showcases the benefits of using NFC smartphones for opening doors at universities and other campus environments at Arizona State University (ASU) will also be broadcasted at the seminar.



IFSEC India 2011 attendees who visit HID Global’s booth and complete a customer contact form will receive a free gift. In addition, those who participate in a quiz on HID’s next-generation iCLASS SIO-Enabled™ (SE) platform will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win exciting prizes.


About HID Global

HID Global is the trusted source for secure identity solutions for millions of customers around the world. Recognized for robust quality, innovative designs and industry leadership, HID Global is the supplier of choice for OEMs, system integrators, and application developers serving a variety of markets. These markets include physical and logical access control, including strong authentication and credential management; card printing and personalization; highly secure government ID; and identification technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics applications. The company's primary brands include HID®, ActivIdentity®, FARGO®, and LaserCard®. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global has over 2,100 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

Gilchrist leads scientific team on Indian tour

Gilchrist is Ambassador to India for the University of Wollongong (UOW), one of Australia’s leading research and higher education institutions ranked in the top two percent of universities worldwide.


The former international wicketkeeper-batsman has been on the UOW team since 2008, helping the University develop stronger ties with Indian companies. The 2011 ‘tour’ is Gilchrist’s fourth to India with UOW, and since 2008 he has helped the University build its relationships with Indian corporations and potential students.

On this trip Gilchrist’s ‘team-mates’ will include UOW’s international medical bionics and nanotechnology expert Professor Gordon Wallace and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Judy Raper, who is also the Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM). The Institute is at the University’s Innovation Campus – a research and development precinct where UOW’s key research institutes are located alongside innovative corporations.

They will be talking to Indian corporations and research institutions about opportunities for collaboration in a range of high-tech research areas ranging from medical bionics including nanobionics and artificial muscle development to batteries for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.

Their itinerary includes Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, where they will be meeting with key Indian business leaders and technology experts. Professor Wallace will also deliver a keynote address at Bangalore Nano (9 December).

UOW already has strong links with India, with the Gilchrist-led visits of recent years reinforcing decades-old ties.

In November 2011 UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton visited India to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr Arun Kumar Jagatramka, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian company Gujarat NRE to investigate developing a campus in the city of Ahmedabad to offer a range of courses. Gujarat NRE has coal mining operations in Wollongong, and the company has a close association with UOW.



UOW has successfully operated the University of Wollongong in Dubai since 1993. It is the most successful western university in the United Arab Emirates, and Indian students are its largest foreign student body.

And in 2010 Indian global IT services company MphasiS, an HP company, established a presence in Australia when it opened an integrated development and delivery centre at the University of Wollongong.

Building upon this recent success, UOW is now forging links with India in the exciting area of Future Materials. Professor Raper said UOW had world-class researchers who already have global collaborations, and they were looking to establish partnerships with Indian companies and institutions

“The Australian Institute for Innovative Materials is home to two of UOW’s flagship research institutes – the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute led by Professor Gordon Wallace and the Institute for Superconductivity and Electronic Materials led by Professor Shi Xue Dou,” Professor Raper said.

“Chemists, engineers, physicists, biologists and materials scientists are under the one roof at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials working together to develop solutions to some of society’s greatest challenges, and helping transform their laboratory-based successes into commercial realities.”

Adam Gilchrist said he was excited by the scientific successes at the University of Wollongong, and he enjoyed helping UOW build relationships with Indian companies and institutions

“The relationship between the University of Wollongong and India is very much a two-way street,” Gilchrist said. “There are so many opportunities for Indian companies in Australia by linking with UOW, while the University itself is looking to develop a real presence in India.

“The future is limitless.”

Celebrate the joy of gifting with Zippo windproof lighter

With the festive season beckoning and days of fun-filled celebrations just around the corner, now is the perfect time to consider loved ones by gifting them a gift for a lifetime – an iconic Zippo lighter. With new hopes and renewed resolutions, the pulse and preparation for New Year celebrations have already begun and Zippo will be on hand to help you, celebrate in style!


An ideal souvenir for this special season of sharing emotions wrapped in form of gifts, the Bling Emblem Zippo Windproof lighter is an ideal souvenir for this special season. Designed with polished chrome and embedded with Swarovski crystal this lighter will complement a luxurious personality. It is exceedingly enchanting and a much prized possession for one and all.


Party hard, let your hair down, have a blast and hold your Zippo Lighter high for the countdown on the New Years Eve!


To see the plethora of trendy designs and stockiest information, please visit the website at http://www.zippoindia.com/


Model No:



* 1652



The lighter is backed by Zippo's lifetime guarantee, complete with the original Zippo packaging and is priced at INR 2499 /-.





About Zippo


Zippo was founded in 1932 in Bradford, PA. The Zippo windproof lighter has become an international icon of American ingenuity and tradition and is a treasured collectible throughout the world. The Zippo windproof pocket lighter, in addition to the traditional chrome finish, features millions of designs depicting hobbies, activities, logos, and lifestyle interests. Over 450 million Zippo lighters have been manufactured in Bradford since 1932 and all are backed by Zippo’s unparalleled lifetime guarantee



For more information about Zippo please visit http://www.zippoindia.com/.

Sony PlayStation Experience 2011 at Garuda Mall, Bangalore

Teeming crowds and high voltage excitement marked the dedicated exclusively to PlayStation – ‘PlayStation Experience’. The event entry which has been kept free for everyone was held at Garuda Mall on 3rd – 4th Dec 2011. Visitors got a chance to witness the latest and best PlayStation has to offer, both in terms of hardware and software, while highlighting the sociability and simplicity of PlayStation that can be experienced by everyone. Post the Bangalore leg this year is going to be spread across 10 cities – Bangalore followed by Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Jaipur and Mumbai.

This year the Expo was targeted at not just the hard-core gaming enthusiasts but also focused at children, teenagers and the entire family experiencing the complete spread of entertainment on the PlayStation platform. Due to its great popularity, Sony PlayStation set-up a special PS Move zone to showcase some of the latest move titles. It was a crowd puller and had a gamut of exciting PS Move games that saw children and entire families engrossed and having a good time. Some of the PS Move titles showcased included - After Hours Athletes, Start the Party, Sports Champion, Medieval Moves.

Also showcased for the PS2 platform was Sony latest venture and the first major Bollywood film to be launched as a video game – ‘RA.ONE: The game’. Displaying 6 unique characters and more than 20 game play environments from the ‘RA.ONE Universe’, the game allowed the public to participate in infinite numbers of challenging matches. Cars 2 and Chandragupta also were a favorite amongst children as well as adults competing against each other for the championship.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Since the launch of PlayStation 3 in November 2006, 55.5 million units have been sold globally and continue to be


sold at a record level. Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 153.6 million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the

end of 2004, over 73 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, more than 90 million accounts have registered to PlayStation Network, the free-to-access interactive environment, and over 1.91 billion items have been downloaded.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at www.playstation.com.

PlayStation, the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 and PSP are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

INSIDE Secure Opens Door to HID Global iCLASS Credentials on NFC-Enabled Smartphones

INSIDE Secure, a leader in semiconductor solutions for secure transactions, today revealed that its SecuRead® NFC solution is securing and powering the HID Global iCLASS® digital keys and mobile secure identity feature available on multiple new NFC-enabled smartphones. Since the establishment of its partnership with HID in 2001, INSIDE has been the supplier of semiconductor components for HID iCLASS credentials, and all INSIDE Secure NFC products are now supporting the HID iCLASS command set and protocol necessary to communicate with iCLASS readers.


“Last year we announced our commitment to bring market-leading iCLASS access control and identity credentials to NFC mobile phones by building this capability into all of our NFC solutions, and now we are seeing the first results of this partnership,” said Didier Serra, executive vice president and general manager for the U.S. at INSIDE Secure. “Multiple smartphone manufacturers have the opportunity to incorporate this technology into their next-generation NFC mobile devices, and INSIDE will continue to add value to its NFC solutions through additional functionality to serve the needs of the market.”



Any mobile phone using INSIDE’s SecuRead NFC solution is iCLASS-enabled and can support iCLASS virtual credentials. The iCLASS virtual credentials themselves, as well as the credential management and crypto functions, reside in the secure element and can be provisioned and activated by HID Global.


“There is a tremendous opportunity for NFC and iCLASS virtual credentials to transform not only the corporate mobile phone but also more consumer-oriented applications,” said Dr. Tam Hulusi, senior vice president at HID Global. “Through our close relationship with INSIDE Secure, we will continue to seek ways to securely add new levels of convenience and flexibility to enable new application features and bring the power of iCLASS credentials to more mobile devices.”

A suite of new smartphones being deployed into the US and other markets will support iCLASS digital credentials and be compatible with the large installed base of iCLASS readers used for physical access systems in buildings, student IDs, time tracking and attendance application and more. People will be able to simply wave their NFC-enabled smartphone in front of a reader, instead of physical keys or smartcards, to use iCLASS digital credentials for authentication. HID Global previewed iCLASS digital keys and mobile identity credentials using the NFC capabilities of the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone at the ASIS International 2011 security conference in September.

About INSIDE Secure

INSIDE Secure is a leading designer, developer and supplier of semiconductors, embedded software and platforms for secure transactions and digital security. INSIDE mobile NFC, secure payment, and digital security products provide security for a wide range of information processing, storage and transmission applications. The company’s customers are found in a wide range of markets including mobile payment, identification documents, access control, transit, electronic device manufacturing, pay television and mobile service operators. For more information, visit www.insidesecure.com

Gartner, Inc. has revealed its top predictions for IT organizations and users for 2012 and beyond. Analysts said that the predictions herald changes in control for IT organizations as budgets, technologies and costs become more fluid and distributed.




This year's selection process included evaluating several criteria that define a top prediction. The issues examined included relevance, impact and audience appeal. A list of this year's predicts reports is available on the Gartner Predicts website at www.gartner.com/predicts.

Gartner's top predictions for 2012 and beyond showcase the trends and events that will change the nature of business today and in years to come. Selected from across Gartner's research areas as the most compelling and critical predictions, the trends and topics they address underline the reduction of control that IT has over the forces that affect it.

"The continued trends toward consumerization and cloud computing highlight the movement of certain former IT responsibilities into the hands of others," said Daryl Plummer, managing vice president and Gartner fellow. "As users take more control of the devices they will use, business managers are taking more control of the budgets IT organizations have watched shift over the last few years. As the world of IT moves forward, CIOs are finding that they must coordinate their activities in a much wider scope than they once controlled. While this might be a difficult prospect for IT departments, they must now adapt or be swept aside."


Gartner analysts said that going into 2012 there is an increase in the amount of information available to organizations, but it's a challenge for them to understand it. Given the shifts in control of systems that IT organizations are facing, the loss of ability to guarantee consistency and effectiveness of data will leave many struggling to prevent their organizations from missing key opportunities or from using questionable information for strategic decisions. No regulatory help is on the near horizon, leaving each business to decide for itself how to handle the introduction of big data.

"Any organization which wishes to accelerate in 2012 must establish in itself a significant discipline of coordinating distributed activities," Mr. Plummer said. "They must establish relationship management as a key skill and train their people accordingly. The reason for this is that the lack of control can only be combated through coordinative activities. The IT organization of the future must coordinate those who have the money, those who deliver the services, those who secure the data, and those consumers who demand to set their own pace for use of IT."



Gartner's top predictions for 2012 include:


By 2015, low-cost cloud services will cannibalize up to 15 percent of top outsourcing players' revenue.

Industrialized low-cost IT services (ILCS) is an emerging market force that will alter the common perceptions of pricing and value of IT services. In the next three to five years, this new model will reset the value proposition of IT. Low-cost cloud services will cause the cannibalization of current and potential outsourcing revenue. Similar to what happened with the adoption of offshore delivery, it will be incumbent upon vendors to invest in and adopt a new cloud-based, industrialized services strategy either directly or indirectly, internally or externally. The projected $1 trillion IT services market is at the beginning of a phase of further disruption, similar to the one the low-cost airlines have brought in the transportation industry.


In 2013, the investment bubble will burst for consumer social networks, and for enterprise social software companies in 2014.



Vendors in the consumer social network space are competing with each other at a rate and pace that are unusually aggressive, even in the technology market. The net result is a large crop of vendors with overlapping features competing for a finite audience. In the enterprise market, many small independent social networking vendors are struggling to reach critical mass at a time when market consolidation is starting, and megavendors, such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Google and VMware, have made substantial efforts to penetrate the enterprise social networking market. While substantial excitement will be raised by private firms going public, valuations of smaller independent vendors will diminish as recognition sets in that the opportunities for market differentiation and fast growth has eroded.


By 2016, at least 50 percent of enterprise email users will rely primarily on a browser, tablet or mobile client instead of a desktop client.



While the rise in popularity of mobile devices and the growing comfort with browser use for enterprise applications preordains a richer mix of email clients and access mechanisms, the pace of change over the next four years will be breathtaking. Email system vendors are also likely to build mobile clients for a diverse set of devices for the same reason. Market opportunities for mobile device management platform vendors will soar. Increased pressure will be on those suppliers to accommodate an increasing portfolio of collaboration services, including instant messaging, Web conferencing, social networking and shared workspaces.

By 2015, mobile application development projects targeting smartphones and tablets will outnumber native PC projects by a ratio of 4-to-1.



Smartphones and tablets represent more than 90 percent of the new net growth in device adoption for the coming four years, and increasing application platform capability across all classes of mobile phones is spurring a new frontier of innovation, particularly where mobile capabilities can be integrated with location, presence and social information to enhance the usefulness. Innovation is moving to the edge for mobile devices; whereas, in 2011, Gartner estimates that app development projects targeting PCs to be on par with mobile development. Future adoption will triple from 4Q10 to 1Q14, and will result in the vast majority of client-side applications being mobile only or mobile first for these devices.


By 2016, 40 percent of enterprises will make proof of independent security testing a precondition for using any type of cloud service.



While enterprises are evaluating the potential cloud benefits in terms of management simplicity, economies of scale and workforce optimization, it is equally critical that they carefully evaluate cloud services for their ability to resist security threats and attacks. Inspectors' certifications will eventually become a viable alternative or complement to third-party testing. This means that instead of requesting that a third-party security vendor conduct testing on the enterprise's behalf, the enterprise will be satisfied by a cloud provider's certificate stating that a reputable third-party security vendor has already tested its applications.


At year-end 2016, more than 50 percent of Global 1000 companies will have stored customer-sensitive data in the public cloud.



With the current global economy facing financial pressure, organizations are compelled to reduce operational costs and streamline their efficiency. Responding to this imperative, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of organizations have already begun to selectively store their customer-sensitive data in a hybrid architecture that is a combined deployment of their on-premises solution with a private and/or public cloud provider in 2011.


By 2015, 35 percent of enterprise IT expenditures for most organizations will be managed outside the IT department's budget.



Next generation digital enterprises are being driven by a new wave of business managers and individual employees who no longer need technology to be contextualized for them by an IT department. These people are demanding control over the IT expenditure required to evolve the organization within the confines of their roles and responsibilities. CIOs will see some of their current budget simply reallocated to other areas of the business. In other cases, IT projects will be redefined as business projects with line-of-business managers in control.


By 2014, 20 percent of Asia-sourced finished goods and assemblies consumed in the U.S. will shift to the Americas. Political, environmental, economic and supply chain risks are causing many companies serving the U.S. market to shift sources of supply from Asia to the Americas, including Latin America, Canada and the U.S. Except in cases where there is a unique manufacturing process or product intellectual property, most products are candidates to be relocated. Escalating oil prices globally and rising wages in many offshore markets, plus the hidden costs associated with offshore outsourcing, erode the cost savings that didn't account for critical supply chain factors, such as inventory carrying costs, lead times, demand variability and product quality.


Through 2016, the financial impact of cybercrime will grow 10 percent per year, due to the continuing discovery of new vulnerabilities.



As IT delivery methods meet the demand for the use of cloud services and employee-owned devices, new software vulnerabilities will be introduced, and innovative attack paths will be developed by financially motivated attackers. The combination of new vulnerabilities and more targeted attacks will lead to continued growth in bottom-line financial impact because of successful cyber attacks.


By 2015, the prices for 80 percent of cloud services will include a global energy surcharge.



While cloud operators can make strategic decisions about locations, tax subsidies are no long-term answer to managing costs, and investments in renewable-energy sources remain costly. Some cloud data center operators already include an energy surcharge in their pricing package, and Gartner analysts believe this trend will rapidly escalate to include the majority of operators — driven by competitive pressures and a "me too" approach. Business and IT leaders and procurement specialists must expect to see energy costs isolated and included as a variable element in future cloud service contracts.



Through 2015, more than 85 percent of Fortune 500 organizations will fail to effectively exploit big data for competitive advantage.



Current trends in smart devices and growing Internet connectivity are creating significant increases in the volume of data available, but the complexity, variety and velocity with which it is delivered combine to amplify the problem substantially beyond the simple issues of volume implied by the popular term "big data." Collecting and analyzing the data is not enough — it must be presented in a timely fashion so that decisions are made as a direct consequence that have a material impact on the productivity, profitability or efficiency of the organization. Most organizations are ill prepared to address both the technical and management challenges posed by big data; as a direct result, few will be able to effectively exploit this trend for competitive advantage.


Additional details are in the Gartner report, "Gartner's Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users, 2012 and Beyond: Control Slips Away," which is available on Gartner's website at www.gartner.com/predicts. The Gartner Predicts Special Report includes links to more than 70 predicts reports broken out by topics, industries and markets.


Gartner analysts to delve into the significance of the top IT related trends & focus on the issues & challenges CIOs & IT organizations will face in 2012 during the Gartner predicts briefing to be held in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore from January 24-25. For more details on the event please visit http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1837716

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is a valuable partner to 60,000 clients in 11,500 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and has 4,500 associates, including 1,250 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

Bangalore votes Soldiers as professionals with the best fusion of five core values along with Malaika Arora Khan and Radhika Pandit

In a nation-wide survey conducted by Nielsen India, Bangalore men and women uniformly declared Soldiers as the profession which best embodies the fusion of values of Confidence, Courage, Integrity, Camaraderie and Grooming. Soldiers emerged as the winner over other professions like Corporate, IAS Officers, Lawyers as well as Bollywood actors with the perfect balance of these values.


Some of the key survey revelations included:

· 99% women in Bangalore feel that their partner looks manlier after a clean shave

· 88% women and 98% men in Bangalore feel that the 5 qualities of a soldier – courage, confidence, camaraderie, grooming and integrity will make them/their partner a better person

· 87% men and 86% women in Bangalore feel that soldier values in regular citizens will make our country a better place


· 74% men and 79 % women in Bangalore feel that it is important to have the quality of grooming


· 78% men and 77% women in Bangalore feel that men with soldier values have better prospects of being chosen as a groom for your daughter/sister


· 72% women in Bangalore feel that men with the fusion of 5 soldier values have better prospects of being chosen as a groom

Earlier this month, Gorgeous Bollywood divas Lisa Haydon and Neha Dhupia came together to kick start ‘Gillette Men Wanted’ in conjunction with the national survey, to hunt for the profession which best exhibits the five core values. They also encouraged consumers to vote for the professions that are a perfect blend of the 5 values.

Further to this nationwide hunt, Soldiers emerged as the winner by a huge majority. In keeping with the spirit of the best a man can get, Gillette salutes the Soldier winners chosen by Indians by unveiling a new range of specially designed soldier packs. Through this campaign, Gillette India will help generate funds for the welfare of soldiers & their families and will channelize the resources via a well-known NGO ‘Sainik Welfare Organization’.

Sainik Welfare Organization-India is a social service organization with the sole objective of serving two segments of central government uniformed personnel, the Serving and the Retired who shares the right to a decent standard of living together within the same community after retirement from active service. The funds will be used towards supporting soldiers in need, covering the below:


· Retired Soldiers


· Injured/Deceased Soldiers


· Families of soldiers who are in need


Actress Malaika Arora Khan, leading Bollywood actress said, “I am extremely proud to be a part of the ‘Gillette Salutes the Soldier in you’ campaign. I am a big fan of men in uniform and believe that there is a soldier in each one of us. In fact, along with 86% women in Bangalore feel that soldier values in regular citizens will make our country a better place. Soldiers have always stood up for us during our time of need and I believe that this is an excellent platform for us to do our part by imbibing the values of Confidence, Courage, Integrity, Camaraderie and Grooming.”


Actress Radhika Pandit said, “It is a known fact that women are extremely selective while choosing the right partner. Along with 88% of women in Bangalore I strongly believe that my perfect man would be someone who has in him the qualities of Confidence, Courage, Integrity, Camaraderie and Grooming. Men need to pay more attention to their grooming because a well-groomed look enhances a man’s personality and makes him even more attractive in the eyes of a woman. Even my fellow Bangaloreans agree with me as 78% men and 77% women feel that men with soldier values have better prospects of being chosen as a groom for their daughter/sister.”


Speaking on this occasion, Sharat Verma, Marketing Manager, Gillette India Limited, said, “We at Gillette India are extremely proud to felicitate and applaud the heroes of our nation. Gillette recognizes that the values of a soldier are present in each and every citizen and we urge citizens to imbibe the values of the soldier more strongly so as to be the Best a Man Can Get. With the new soldier product packs, we empower the common man to make an effortless contribution and stand up and salute these soldier values through the simple act of buying the special range of Gillette products to showcase the values of both grooming and camaraderie and salute the soldier.”

Also speaking on this occasion Colonel Rakesh Rana, Kirti Chakra, Chairman SWO-India, Sainik Welfare Organisation, said, “We at Sainik Welfare Organisation are extremely delighted to be associated with Gillette and feel honored to be Gillette’s partner to this unique initiative ‘Gillette salutes the Soldier’. This initiative is a conscious effort taken to benefit the lives of the real heroes of our nation, the soldiers who have devoted their lives to serve our country. This endeavor will go a long way in reaching out to the families and soldiers who are in need.”

The Nielsen survey findings brought to light some interesting facts about importance of possessing the 5 core values.

· 87% women feel that a soldier possesses courage

· 85% men feel that a soldier possesses courage

· 88% women feel that a soldier possesses integrity



· 86% men feel that a soldier possesses integrity


· 87% women feel that a soldier possesses confidence


· 80% men feel that a soldier possesses confidence


· 78% women feel that soldier is the most groomed profession


· 78% men feel that a soldier is the most groomed profession


· 89% women feel that it’s very important for their man to have camaraderie


· 87% men feel that it’s very important for a man to have camaraderie


· 95% men says that imbibing the qualities (values) of the soldier will make them a better person


· 91% women say that their partner would become a better person if they imbibe the qualities(values) of the soldier


· 92% people say that imbibing soldier’s values will make the country a better place


· 71% women are more likely to go on a date with a guy who imbibes all the 5 values


*Gillette India Limited claim based on research conducted by Nielsen, in Jan 2011, amongst 611 respondents



Gillette India’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GilletteIndia


About Gillette India

Gillette India Limited (GIL) is one of India’s well-known FMCG Companies that has in its portfolio GILLETTE MACH 3 TURBO, ORAL-B and DURACELL– world’s leading brands and has carved a reputation for delivering high quality, value-added products to meet the needs of consumers. GIL’s brands take pride in being socially conscious via their participation in project SHIKSHA, a national consumer movement that supports the education of underprivileged children in India. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about GIL and its brands.

Japanese IT giant Fujitsu marks its presence in Bengaluru,Opens new delivery centre

Fujitsu, the third largest IT services company in the world, will expand its footprint in India by opening a new delivery center in Bengaluru. This initiative is part of the company’s expansion plan to increase its presence in key growth markets and expanding its IT services offerings to its global client base from India. With the opening of this center, Fujitsu will now have delivery centers at Pune, Noida, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The Bengaluru center will serve the IT giant’s clients in industry verticals such as Consumer Packaged Goods, Logistics, Energy & Utilities and Retail.



Referring to Fujitsu’s efforts to integrate operations inside and outside Japan through the introduction of common and globally shared functions, Jack Noble, Executive Vice President at Fujitsu’s Global Business Group commented, “India is a strategic region for us as it is one of our most important global delivery centers. We already have a strong presence in Pune, Noida and Hyderabad, and it was natural for us to expand into Bengaluru. We have a clear drive to leverage our Indian capabilities and resources to drive our global expansion program as we value the professional standards and quality of our Indian teams.”


Rajeev Gupta, President of Fujitsu Consulting India, said, “The creation of new services and businesses in Bengaluru will accelerate the company’s vision for globalization. Fujitsu has a strong Japanese heritage of customer centricity, long-term relationships and quality of service. We will continue this tradition from our new Bengaluru facility as well.”

About Fujitsu:


Fujitsu is a leading provider of information and communication technology (ICT)-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in over 100 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$55 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com



Fujitsu in India through its subsidiary Fujitsu Consulting India Pvt Ltd. addresses the IT Services and Software market in India and also operates Fujitsu’s largest Global Delivery Center in the world from India. Fujitsu is enabling its customers to realize their growth objectives by leveraging information technology through its integrated services and software portfolio. This includes Business Services, Infrastructure Management Services, Application Services and Software in industry verticals such as Energy & Utilities, Retail, Logistics, Consumer Packaged Goods, Infrastructure, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Agriculture & Allied, Government, Automotive and Financial Services. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/in/

Huawei launches Global Network Operations Centre in India

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology solutions provider, today announced the launch of its Global Network Operations Centre (GNOC) in Bangalore, India, to provide breakthrough business solutions in India and around the world. Under the GNOC, Huawei will provide various facilities, technology, applications, and resources for global Managed Services.


A GNOC is a Network Operation Centre (NOC) which operates multiple networks of different countries in a centralized location. The GNOC off-shore manages multiple networks to achieve economies of scale, efficient and quality operations. As of today, Huawei operates more than 50 NOCs and 2 GNOCs and manages more than 56 networks globally. Spread over 42,000 sq ft, the new Huawei India GNOC in Bangalore has around 500 seats, 140000+ sites, and covers all kinds of technologies including wireless, wire-line, transmission and adjunct. It has full sets of GNOC functions available including Front Office, Back Office, Performance Management, Operations Support, IS/IT.

“Huawei India GNOC is based on Huawei’s leading cloud solution. It will simplify the end user’s experience as we aim to enhance the centre control of the data & operation and provide flexible access points in GNOC. Under this system, costs will be greatly reduced while the level of security, quality and maintenance goes up” said Mr. Max Yang, CEO, Huawei India.

“Huawei India GNOC will be major seeding ground for global resource competence development. India as a source of English speaking engineers will provide the human capital and organization capital to be utilized for worldwide operations. This GNOC itself will be a knowledge capital for the Huawei Organization. “, concluded Mr. Yao Weimen, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Huawei India

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world’s population.



For more information, visit Huawei online: http://www.huawei.com/

LG Launches the World’s First ‘Just Drag and Share’ Innovative Mouse Scanner

LG Electronics, technology innovator is once again all set to create a new era for scanners with the launch of LSM-100, the mouse with a built-in scanner. The innovative mouse incorporates technology specifically developed for the new device, offering an array of unique functions that blend surprising innovation and user convenience


The LG LSM-100 Mouse Scanner is the world’s first mouse with an embedded scanner function that offers convenience, mobility, and simplicity to the users. An innovative scanner that breaks through the limitations of complicated, non-portable conventional scanners will surely be the next hit in the technology market.

Operating the LSM-100’s scanning function is far more convenient than on conventional scanners. While holding the Smart Scan button on the left side of the mouse, the user simply swipes the mouse over the material to be scanned. The scanned image can then be saved in a variety of file types – PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PDF, XLS and DOC – or dragged and dropped into the desired application. Users can easily perform OCR (optical character recognition) editing of scanned files as well as send them as e-mails, SNSs and mobile phones. From corporate offices to regular usage, the LG Mouse Scanner boasts to transform scanning into a much easier and convenient task.

“LG is all set to offer a treat to the technology lovers and gizmo freaks yet again with the launch of the world’s first ‘Just Drag and Share’ Mouse Scanner. Another technical gem with its tech -savvy, smooth design and state-of-the art technology features, it is bound to attract everyone's attention at the very first look & usage, giving it the Gen Y quotient. This device is a top-end mouse, with a very accurate, durable laser sensor, and a stylish design that lends itself to easy, smooth motions, while providing an ergonomic, comfortable grip. With optical character recognition software "said Mr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Product Group Marketing Head, LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.

Smart Scan with LSM-100- Innovative Mouse + Scanner:

The LSM-100 is equipped with LG's Optical Character Recognition technology, which converts scanned text into a Microsoft Word document that can then be edited and manipulated as the user sees fit. By eliminating the need to retype text from print media onto the screen, the Optical Character Reader saves users a great deal of time.

Other remarkably advanced features are superior resolution, lighting, scanning size, text recognition & conversion, superior text read & conversion rate and free size scan uninfluenced by lighting high resolution. Now, with the introduction of this mouse scanner in the market, it is easy for the users to edit & share in the form of e-mail, MS Word, SNSs , helpful in real time work like scanning & editing etc. and also for free size scanning (Up to A3 size).

This world’s first ‘Just Drag and Share’ Mouse Scanner (LSM – 100) makes a remarkable debut in the market as first in the series at a price point of Rs 3500 /-. The brilliant gadget is available in leading stores now.

About LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.

LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India. It is one of the most formidable brands in consumer electronics, home appliances, IT hardware and mobile communications space. In India for a decade, LG has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry.

LGEIL has achieved a turnover of Rs 16,000 crore in 2010. LGEIL's manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture GSM Phones, Colour Televisions, Air Conditioners, LCD TVs, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Monitors and Optical Disc Drives. This is India's first mobile phone manufacturing unit and also Asia's largest Optical Disc Drive manufacturing plant.

Bengaluru gets its first certified Trail as the city gears up for Trailwalker in February 2012

The 100 km route from Sangam -- the confluence of river Arkavati and Cauvery to Bidadi, -- will be the first certified route on which Oxfam India will hold its team challenge event, Trailwalker, from Feb 10 to 12 , 2012. The event which is being held in India for the first time will now be an annual affair with the certified route between Bengaluru and Mysore staking its claim to be the first ever trail in India.


With “team up against poverty’’ as its tagline, the event involves teams of four running 100 km in 48 hours and raising funds for various development interventions of Oxfam India. A popular event globally, there are certified trails in various parts of the world on which the 100 km walk takes place. In Hong Kong, for example, the Trail has been developed by the Army and perfected by the Trailwalker team.

A recee visit involving 10 km of the trail from the start point at Sangam (Mekadatu) was organized here today for the participants interested in taking part in the Oxfam Trailwalker. A total of 30 people took part and walked 10 km to get an idea of the trail.

The recee was flagged off by the Additional Deputy Commissoner of Ram Nagar district, Archana M. S. She promised all support to the Oxfam Trailwalker on behalf of the district administration and said that the newly carved district of Ram Nagar needs events like these to make it a popular destination. She also walked some distance along with the participants.



Oxfam Trailwalker has prescribed strict standards which are followed globally to organize such a mega event. This involves safety parameters, health tips, food and appropriate logistics arrangements. In order to ensure this in Oxfam Trailwalker India, two experienced members from Hongkong visited India in September last month, to conduct an audit of the 100km route, which passes through scenic villages and part of the Bannerghatta National Park.

The audit team comprising Brenda Wong and Karl Lung from Hong Kong along with a three member team from Oxfam India and two members from Pegasus, (an outward bound management training Institute) walked the 100km trail between Mysore to Bengaluru to ensure that the Oxfam Trailwalker continues to be a happy and safe experience for participants in India also.

The team from Hongkong find Oxfam trail route India comparable to many other trail routes in other countries and hoped that the ‘first ever’ Oxfam Trailwalker in India will go down pleasantly in the minds of walkers. “Walking 48 hours might seem like mission impossible but it all depends on the preparation. It is not mandatory to be a sports person or a regular walker or a fitness freak to be part of Oxfam Trailwalker. It is about challenging yourself and achieving it,’’ said Brenda after walking the trail.



Already, Oxfam Trailwalker has generated a lot of interest among the corporate and celebrities. Actor Rahul Bose and corporate lawyer Somashekhar Sunderesan, were among the first to register for the Oxfam Trailwalker in India. “We have entered into a partnership with the Bangalore Mountaineering club to create awareness about the Oxfam Trailwalker. Regular stalls are being held over every weekend at Decathlon, another popular sports venue in Bengaluru,’’ informs Gopal Jain, Manger for Oxfam Trailwalker India.

About Trailwalker

Trailwalker or Oxfam Trailwalker and the related Trailtrekker are endurance walking events run across the world by Oxfam, in which teams of 4 competitors must complete a course of 100 kilometres (62 mi) in a set time limit - typically between 24 and 48 hours. The routes may be point-to-point or follow a circular route returning to the start.

The event began in 1981 in Hong Kong as a training exercise by the Queen's Gurkha Signals, part of the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army, which was at the time based in the British colony. After five years, in 1986, teams of civilians were allowed to take part and Oxfam Hong Kong was brought in as a charity partner. In 1997, with the handover of Hong Kong to China, the Gurkha regiments were relocated to the United Kingdom, and brought Trailwalker with them, organising it over the South Downs in Sussex, with Oxfam in the UK acting as partner since 2002, alongside the Gurkha Welfare Trust.



Oxfam Hong Kong continued to organise the original event without the Gurkhas and the event has grown with 15 events now taking place in 12 countries worldwide.[2]Since 1986, more than 65,000 participants in the Hong Kong event alone have raised over HK$323 million to support Oxfam's various poverty alleviation and emergency relief projects.

About Oxfam India

Oxfam is celebrating its 60th year in India this year. Oxfam International is a confederation of independent non- government organizations working in over 100 countries worldwide and has programme offices throughout India. It is fitting that in this historic year for the Oxfam family, Oxfam India has just been inducted as a fully independent, Indian organization (with Indian staff and an Indian Board) into the Oxfam International Confederation.

Oxfam India is the newest and 15th member of this Confederation. Oxfam India strives to secure the right to a life with dignity for all by actively engaging people and policy makers in the inclusive development of society. We are working to ensure that people are able to overcome poverty by earning a decent livelihood; women lead a life of dignity, free from violence and communities are prepared to deal with the impact of climate change and natural disasters.

Oxfam India's vision is to create a more equal, just, and sustainable world. The overarching vision of Oxfam India is “right to life with dignity for all‘‘. Oxfam India will fulfill its vision by empowering the poor and marginalized to demand their rights, engaging the non poor to become active and supportive citizens, advocating for an effective and accountable state and making markets work for poor and marginalized people.

HID Global and Sony Announce NFC-Enabled Contactless Smart Card Reader Platform for Global Laptop and Mobile Device Market

HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, and Sony Corporation today announced a jointly developed contactless smart card reader platform that embeds secure access control capabilities and Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality into laptops and other mobile devices. The platform holds a secure element that stores cryptographic keys which secure the authenticity and integrity of user credentials. It supports widely used contactless technologies for applications ranging from physical access control and identity assurance at the desktop to transit-fare, point-of-sale collection and loyalty programs.



The jointly developed NFC global reader platform is the result of a strategic partnership that Sony and HID Global announced last year. Both companies will be demonstrating the platform November 15-17, 2011, at the CARTES & IDentification 2011 conference in Paris, where it will be shown reading a variety of card technologies using NFC, a short-range wireless technology that is now fueling a wide range of new mobile access control applications. The HID Global demonstration can be seen in Stand F002, Hall 3 in the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, while the Sony demonstration will be located in Stand 4L051, Hall 4.


In continuing to work closely with the NFC Forum in support of market-driven compliance and interoperability goals, the reader platform has been provided to the NFC Forum Certification Program as a reference sample to assist in the validation of the Digital Protocol test tools. The reader platform will also be submitted for certification.


“HID Global and Sony have delivered an exciting new embedded reader platform that will be offered to all manufacturers of laptops and other mobile devices,” said Debra Spitler, vice president of mobile access solutions with HID Global. “HID Global continues to expand our access control system and card services businesses while bringing our partners and customers new products and deployment models that improve user security, flexibility and convenience.”


“We are very pleased with this first solution from our strategic partnership with HID Global,” said Yoshihiko Kawakami, general manager of sales with Sony’s FeliCa Business Division. “This is an important milestone that moves our FeliCa contactless card technology and NFC solutions into the global market. By releasing the new reader platform, we will play a role in providing a part of the NFC infrastructure in the global NFC era.”


The jointly developed platform supports Sony’s FeliCaTM technology, HID Global’s iCLASS® and iCLASS SETM credentials, MIFARE® DESFire EV1 credentials, and other broadly adopted technologies supporting the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A/B contactless smart card standard using the T=CL contactless transmission protocol. The solution also supports the industry-standard PC/SC Version 2.0 specification for the programming interfaces between PC applications, the operating system and smart cards. It is also prepared to further support the proximity features of the next major release of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system which enable communication between NFC tags and devices (mobile phones or computers) using a tap gesture, as well as the Android operating system for tablet products.

Availability

Sony and HID Global have released a complete reference design for the jointly developed embedded NFC module, and will also provide comprehensive developer support to minimize product development requirements and speed time-to-market schedules for PC OEMs. During CARTES & IDentification 2011, the two companies will show laptop computers running HID Global’s naviGO™ credential management software and a number of Sony FeliCa applications, including the Sony FeliCa Launcher platform service as well as the company’s e-Money Viewer widget. The companies will also show the platform operating with Sony’s NFC Dynamic Tag, a FeliCa wireless module with a cable interface that enables data transmission between NFC reader/writers and other electronic equipment and devices.


About HID Global

HID Global is the trusted source for secure identity solutions for millions of customers around the world. Recognized for robust quality, innovative designs and industry leadership, HID Global is the supplier of choice for OEMs, system integrators, and application developers serving a variety of markets. These markets include physical and logical access control, including strong authentication and credential management; card printing and personalization; highly secure government ID; and identification technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics applications. The company's primary brands include HID®, ActivIdentity™, FARGO®, and LaserCard®. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global has over 2,100 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.


About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $87 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.



Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

Sony FeliCa Web Site: http://www.sony.net/Products/felica/

REATOR OF DRUPAL, DRIES BUYTAERT TO VISIT INDIA

Dries Buytaert, creator of Drupal & Co-Founder/CTO of Acquia, will be arriving in Delhi on Tuesday, 8th November ’11 to share his insights on commercial aspects and future plans of the company and the Drupal ecosystem.

Buytaert serves as President of the Drupal Association, a non-profit organization formed to help Drupal flourish. He is also Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Acquia, a venture-fund backed software company that offers products and services for Drupal. Dries is also a co-founder of Mollom, a web service that helps identify content quality and, more importantly, helps stop website spam.

“It is my first visit to the country and I look forward to meeting with the growing Drupal community in India. I feel that Drupal's success there is crucial to its worldwide adoption.” said Mr. Buytaert

About Drupal

Drupal is a free, open-source web development platform for online content and user communities. Drupal powers some of the busiest sites on the web, and can be adapted to virtually any visual design. Drupal runs about 2% of the web - over a million sites - including WhiteHouse.gov, World Economic Forum, Stanford University, and Examiner.com.

About Acquia

Acquia is a commercial open source software company providing products, services, and technical support to help organizations create great web experiences using the open source Drupal social publishing system. it has a list of very prestigious customers across the globe. Acquia was founded in 2007 by Dries Buytaert, the original creator and project lead of the Drupal project, and Jay Batson, previously founder and CEO of Pingtel.

BAXTER LAUNCHES 'FLEXBUMIN', THE FIRST AND ONLY ALBUMIN SOLUTION

Baxter India, a 100% subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced the launch of U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FLEXBUMIN™ [Albumin (Human)] Solution, the first preparation of human albumin to be packaged in a flexible container.


FLEXBUMIN uses Baxter’s GALAXY® flexible container system, a proprietary multi-layer system that helps maintain albumin quality and allows the solution to be stored at less than 300C for up to 2 years. GALAXY employs barrier technology and a continuous aseptic filling process. FLEXBUMIN has the same indications and provides the same stability as BUMINATE, and will be available in both 50 mL and 100 mL flexible containers.



About FLEXBUMIN

FLEXBUMIN is a sterile, non-pyrogenic preparation of albumin in a single dosage form for intravenous administration. FLEXBUMIN is indicated in hypovolemia, hypoalbuminemia due to excessive catabolism, hemorrhage, major surgery or burns, and for use during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

FLEXBUMIN is contraindicated in patients with a history of allergic reactions to albumin, in severely anemic patients, and in patients with cardiac failure.

FLEXBUMIN is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, such as viruses, that can cause disease.

The potential risks and benefits of albumin should be weighed against those of alternative therapies for all patients for whom albumin administration is being considered.

About Baxter

Baxter India Private Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Baxter International Inc., that develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.